Ursine
/ˈɜːr.saɪn/noun
Relating to or resembling a bear.
Did you know?Ursine comes from Latin ursinus, from ursus “bear,” the same ancient root behind Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the bear constellations that have guided people for millennia.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂ŕ̥tḱos
“bear”
Ancient Greek
Greek
arktos
“bear”
Latin
Latin
ursus
“bear”
Late Latin
Latin
ursinus
“of a bear; bear-like”
14th–15th Century
English
ursine
“bear-like; pertaining to bears”